Wind Driven Power Generator with Moveable Cam

Abstract

A wind driven generator includes a rotor disposed in a cylindrical duct and supported by a frame for rotation in response to wind flowing through the duct. The rotor includes plural circumferentially spaced paralleled rotor blades supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. Each blade is supported for pivotal movement to change blade pitch, angle of attack or camber as the rotor rotates. A pitch or camber control motor, self-governing wind vane mechanism, or governing mechanism is operable to move a circular cam to vary blade pitch or camber to control rotor speed. The duct is mounted on a mast having a base supported on a foundation for pivotal movement to face the wind for maximizing air flow through the duct. Electric power generators are connected to opposite ends of the rotor at respective power output or drive shafts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind driven power generator comprising:
 a frame;   a rotor supported for rotation on said frame, said rotor including plural, circumferentially spaced apart elongated, generally parallel rotor blades, said rotor blades being supported by spaced apart arm assemblies, at least one of said arm assemblies including a hub portion drivingly connected to a drive shaft;   wherein said rotor includes rotor blade lifting force control means having cam followers engageable with a cam operably connected to said rotor blades, wherein each of said rotor blades is connected to a control link connected to one of said cam followers, respectively, and responsive to rotation of said rotor to vary one of the pitch angle and camber of said each rotor blade with respect to the direction of wind impinging on said rotor; and   at least one governor mechanism operably linked to said cam, wherein said mechanism modulates said rotation by varying one of said pitch angle or camber of said rotor blades.   
     
     
         2 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cam followers engage said cam via a groove disposed in said cam.   
     
     
         3 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cam groove has a longitudinal axis that is oriented at an angle relative to the transverse axis of said cam forming an angled cam groove.   
     
     
         4 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said governor mechanism alters the position of said angled cam groove engaging said cam followers to vary one of the pitch angle or camber of each rotor blade.   
     
     
         5 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cam groove has a varying surface forming a varying cam groove.   
     
     
         6 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said governor mechanism alters the position of said varying cam groove engaging said cam followers to vary one of the pitch angle or camber of each rotor blade.   
     
     
         7 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said varying cam groove includes at least one angled portion and one transverse portion.   
     
     
         8 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said governor mechanism alters the position of said cam via a linkage.   
     
     
         9 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said governor mechanism shift said cam forcing said cam followers to move inwardly and upwardly into said angled groove causing said control means to vary said rotor blades angle of attack to modulate said rotor rotation.   
     
     
         10 . A wind driven power generator comprising:
 a frame;   a rotor supported for rotation on said frame, said rotor including plural, circumferentially spaced apart elongated, generally parallel rotor blades, said rotor blades being supported by spaced apart arm assemblies, at least one of said arm assemblies including a hub portion drivingly connected to a drive shaft;   a rotor blade lifting force control means having cam followers engaging angled cam groove of a cam operably connected to said rotor blades, each of said rotor blades is connected to a link connected to one of said cam followers, respectively, and said control means is responsive to rotation of said rotor to vary one of the pitch angle and camber of said each rotor blade with respect to the direction of wind impinging on said rotor; and   at least one tensioning device positioned between said cam and said hub portion.   
     
     
         11 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said cam followers engage said cam via a groove disposed in said cam, wherein said cam groove has a longitudinal axis that is oriented at an angle relative to the transverse axis of said cam forming an angled cam groove.   
     
     
         12 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said cam groove has a varying surface forming a varying cam groove.   
     
     
         13 . The wind drive power generator set forth in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said varying cam groove includes at least one angled portion and one transverse portion.